Coalition Decision 'Expected Soon'

A decision on whether Labour and Fine Gael will enter into a coalition to form a majority Government in the Dáil is expected to come on Friday.

As the party's enter their fourth day of negotiations, it has emerged that putting together a programme for government in time for Labour's conference on Sunday could force a deal before the weekend.

Both party leaders, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore, are currently attending meetings in their respective European political groups, and are not return expected to return to Ireland until Saturday afternoon. Their appointed negotiating teams are hammering out the deal in their absence.

Arriving at Government Buildings this morning, Fine Gael's Pat Rabbitte said today was "D-Day" and because of the Labour conference discussions would have to finish by Friday tonight, if there was going to be space to publish a programme for government.

However, Labour Party Deputy Leader Joan Burton, who is leading Labour's team in the discussions said on Friday morning that a decision could also be delayed to early next week.

Ms Burton said there was a chance that the delegate conference of the Labour Party, which was due to be held this weekend, could be pushed back until next week allowing some extra room for manoeuvring.

She said: "I don’t think people want it to be on Tuesday, but if it needs must yes, because it is more important to get a framework for Government that will work and to get Government that will deliver, on the mandate that people voted for, for both parties in the election, that is the bottom line."

A number of key policy areas are believed to be dividing the two sides, most significantly public spending, over which the parties' manifestos were very much opposed.

(DW)